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Joey Villar - Philstar.com
April 8, 2025 | 10:44pm
Petro Gazz could go for the jugular in Thursday’s Game 2.
PVL Media Bureau
Games Thursday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m. - Choco Mucho vs Akari (Battle for Third)
6:30 p.m. - Petro Gazz vs Creamline (Finals)
MANILA, Philippines — Petro Gazz needed a strong start and a stronger finish as it turned back Creamline, 25-17, 25-20, 18-25, 20-25, 15-10, Wednesday night to inch closer to claiming a breakthrough Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference crown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Angels were nothing short of magnificent in the first two sets but faltered in the next two after the Cool Smashers came roaring back to force a deciding frame where the former did enough to snatch it and gain a 1-0 edge in their best-of-three series.
They could go for the jugular in Thursday’s Game 2, or, if necessary, in the decider Saturday.
If it happens, Petro Gazz, winner of two Reinforced Conference championships but none outside it, could finally lay claim to the one trophy that has eluded the franchise — the All-Filipino Conference title.
Earlier, Akari clawed its way back from the dead with a 24-26, 21-25, 25-15, 25-18, 15-11 win over Choco Mucho in the battle for third place.
“We just want to get this, we really want to win,” said Akari libero Justine Jazareno, who had a match-high 29 digs.
Eli Soyud continued her stellar play and unloaded 24 points that she laced with 20 hits, while Ivy Lacsina scattered 20 hits.
Akari coach Takari Minowa said it was all about resiliency.
“Unlike in our (semifinal) games against Creamline and Petro Gazz, we didn’t give up today, that’s the good thing,” said the Japanese mentor.
It was a heartbreaker for the Flying Titans, who appeared headed to a straight-set victory when they took the first two sets with aplomb.
But things changed when Akari started to play with more resolve and dominated the next two sets before coming out of a 7-7 deadlock in the deciding set by seizing eight of the last 13 points to snatch the win.
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PVL Notes: The league renewed its partnership with Fabriano Appliances, which on its part, named Creamline skipper Alyssa Valdez as its ambassadress.
